In the movie Wild, Reese Witherspoon plays a young woman whose life is in a downward spiral. Seeking healing following a divorce, her mother’s death, and self-destructive behavior, she sets out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, one of the toughest through-trails in the country, with a heavy backpack and no wilderness experience. Self-discovery ensues.
The movie is based on a memoir by Cheryl Strayed, “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.” In 1995, Cheryl decided to hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. This trail extends 2,663 miles from the Mexican to the Canadian borders through California, Oregon, and Washington, ranging in elevation from just above sea level to 13,153 feet. Remarkably, Strayed’s half-sister, with whom she had lost contact, read the book and realized that it was written by her half-sister. They have since reestablished contact.
Thousands of people from around the world hike portions of the Pacific Crest Trail each year, with a few dozen completing the through-hike. Ben Go, a through-hiker from 2013, learned four treasured lessons from his six months on the Pacific Crest Trail:
Take care of those whom you love.
Take care of your health.
Do not limit yourself to what you know; try and learn.
Share your life; we are not meant to be alone.
As we experience summer in earnest, I’m struck by the value of reflecting on the past school year, gleaning what lessons we may, and setting fresh goals for the fall to come. Like those on the Pacific Crest Trail, we too have summited peaks, wandered lost in misty valleys, faced adverse weather conditions, struggled to carry our packs, and found unexpected help and encouragement from fellow travelers on the trail. What are the lessons you perceive that God has been teaching you on your trails this past school year? And what are the opportunities and challenges you sense God is calling you to embrace in the upcoming school year? May the Lord bless you as you continue to walk worthily of your calling in Christ during the days to come.
Recent Comments